The Burden Of Her Arms (Loki/Sigyn)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Loki woke with a jolt. Sigyn looked up from where she sat by the window.

"Your fever's gone." She murmured. He sat up and looked at her. "We gave you a cold bath."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"About three days."

Barely thinking of his weakened state, he swung his legs to the floor and stood. "I suppose Odin banished them." His hand rose to his temple and he groaned under his breath. He swayed a little but soon steadied himself.

Sigyn looked away. "He threatened to hurt them if we fought back. I'm sorry."

"Don't be." He shrugged into the shirt that was folded at the foot of the bed. "It was bound to happen eventually. Where did he send them?"

"Jormungandr is an asteroid belt somewhere in the Midgardian Galaxy. Fenrir is chained on a distant rock in the same belt. And Hela was sent to Nilfheim. We can only reach Fenrir. The Bifrost has no where to land near Jormungandr but he seems free to roam the space. And Heimdall will not send anyone to Nilfheim. The only way is by the natural course."

"I see. And yet you're sure Hela is alive?" She nodded, watching him closely. He was too quiet, too accepting. "Then more than likely she will be fine among those unfortunate enough not to be worthy of Valhalla."

"Loki..."

"I'm fine, Sigyn. It was bound to happen; I should not have been surprised. What of Sleipnir?"

"Odin has made him his own personal steed. He's in training now and seems to like it."

He only made a low noise in his throat. Pushing his hair out of his face, he made to leave but stopped short as he glanced at his desk. Sigyn looked away, worried that he would be upset.

She had gone to Hela's room while the servants were cleaning it. They were carrying out heavy furniture and Sigyn snuck in to grab something, anything, as a memento of Hela's time where she belonged. She had picked up two dolls from where they lay discarded and forgotten on the carpet. One was broken and dirty but she hadn't had time to grab a different one.

They sat on Loki's desk now, propped up against each other. He picked up the broken one, touching its missing eye and torn away hair. Its arm was missing and a leg was torn. Loki's back was turned to her so she didn't see his expression. But he cleared his throat and wiped his eyes, trying to hide it by scratching his face.

Standing slowly, Sigyn went to stand behind him. She wrapped her arms around his middle and rested her head on his back. He shuddered and his breath caught.

"She's only a child." He choked.

"Heimdall will watch over her."

Loki's laugh was humorless and watery. "No he won't. She's hideous and strange and the bastard child of the freak of Asgard. He will gladly forget her, just like everyone else."

"No-"

"Wouldn't you be glad to see her gone?" He pulled away and turned to face her. "If you didn't love me, wouldn't you be glad?" She looked away. "Fenrir and Jormungandr can fend for themselves. But she's only a child! She stands barely at anyone's knees and still sees the world as bright and perfect. She doesn't know what pain is and I've shielded her from hatred. But she's banished to a barren realm and waiting for me and for what?! I cannot go to her! She will think I abandoned her just like her mother. She'll be alone and terrified and surrounded by the dead. All because Odin is a coward and a barbarian, because he thinks a child will bring him harm! He has no conscience, is little better than a Jotun, but he is King and I have to submit to him, don't I?"